A unique way to learn for a new generation of readersMore than just an app, DrawyBook is a fun and interactive multi-channel learning experience for children and has been designed to appeal to a new digitally connected generation.

According to research by Childwise, children spend six hours or more a day on screens* and are a new generation of learners who have only ever known a highly connected digital world. In close collaboration with Engine Creative, BIC has embraced this growing trend by creating a learning platform for 5 to 10 year olds driven by interactive stories that helps them develop their motor skills and creativity at the same time as providing them with engaging and educational screen time.

Rich, interactive learning experiences underpin all DrawyBook activities; in the first DrawyBook story, 'Marty and the Alien', children are encouraged to explore the solar system and learn about the characteristics of each planet as they take a journey into space with a friendly alien.

Blurring the lines between the real and digital worldsThe DrawyBook app is the first project to be created and developed for Bic®Kids by the UK's leading augmented reality agency Engine Creative who were appointed following a competitive pitch. Experts in bringing together emerging technology and creativity, Engine Creative has handled all aspects of the complex DrawyBook project from concept development, through to character design, app development and deployment.

Creative Director, Dan Smith, comments on the concept behind DrawyBook:“With the Bic®Kids DrawyBook app we wanted to place the child at the heart of the digital experience and give them as many opportunities as we could to use their creativity and imagination. To do this the whole experience had to be playful and so the app is full of games and has a reward mechanism which all children will recognise from the games they're already playing on their mobiles and tablets.

We've really tried to blur the lines between the real and digital worlds with DrawyBook. Whereas the app lets children bring their hand drawn creations into the digital world, the DrawyBook colouring books will let children bring the physical book to life with animations, augmented reality games and audio narration of the stories."

More than just a great app for today's connected kidsAs well as the free to download DrawyBook app, Bic®Kids are producing a printed colouring book which allows children to scan pages to trigger animations, games and audio narration through the DrawyBook app using augmented reality.

The colouring book packs will also include a set of 12 magic colouring pens and parents will be able to extend the DrawyBook learning experience by downloading free resources online. Additional stories are currently being created following a successful launch of the the DrawyBook experience in Paris to a select audience of journalists and bloggers.

Unlike other colouring apps, the Bic®Kids DrawyBook gaming experience is based on an original story written by rising star in children's literature, Elissa Elwick. The original story combined with the ability for children to personalise the experience and the range and quality of augmented reality games and educational activities, make the DrawyBook app a truly market leading digital experience.

Elissa Elwick describes the unique creative process:

“Working in partnership with leading digital creative agency Engine Creative has been great fun and an extremely rewarding collaboration. In contrast to my usual format of picture books, it's been an exciting challenge using emerging technology such as augmented reality to bring storytelling to life in a unique way for a new generation of readers."

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